CW, I can understand your frustration with your siblings. Growing up my sister was always there to take care of me and protect me. As we got older and my mother developed cancer, her attention should have been focused on her. But instead all I got was, "Well you live closer." "I have small kids." "I am too busy." One excuse after another.

Well, I did live closer and had four kids. She only had three and they were older than mine. And what mother isn't busy. At the funeral she accused of not taking care of my mother better. I held my tongue. I never told her what I was really thinking. And I am glad I did. Years later inside of just a couple of days, she lost her house to a fire on New Years Eve and her son a couple of days later in a horrible car crash along with three other teenagers. But I was there for her. We just never know what the future holds for any of us. My sister and I never had an argument or fight in all our years. Her kids and mine wouldn't believe it if they didn't see it for themselves.

When I lost my daughter to murder, she was there for me. When she was in the hospital with serious heart problems, I had her husband and by then her four kids move into my house. I took care of them. It was always give and take between us. And neither one of us ever expressed any regrets or kept score.

Then three years ago, she got very sick and died unexpectedly. I feel so lost without her. I was the one who got the phone call from the hospital. Not one of her children. But I know in my heart I will never have to live with the "If only's." If only I had done this. If only I had said that. And that is the message I have passed on to my children. Live your life knowing that you will have to live with the "If only's" if you hold a grudge in your heart. I was reminded of that by my son at her funeral. I was on the verge of collapsed and couldn't go up to her casket to say goodbye. My son stayed at my side and told me that I would always regret it if I didn't day goodbye. And he was right.

Losing her has taught me to never hold a grudge against anyone. It is wasted energy only your part. And the other person probably doesn't even know you are angry or upset with them.

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Illegitimi non carborundum!
I don't want my last words to be, "I wish I had spent more time doing housework"

What I get from my brother is "it is so difficult to travel there." Yeah, and? I get there. He makes more $ than I do. There are airplanes/trains/buses/rental cars (he doesn't own a car). My complaint is--don't complain about what I did or did not do while there. I did what I could. And, more recently, my time there is doing things with my mom that she wants to do (out for lunch, shopping, visiting her SIL, etc.). He, on the other hand, wants to empty their house. Yes, we'll have to do that at some point, but they don't want to do it now.

Not to sound insensitive, here, but I think family relationships depend a lot on expectations. Not everybody feels the same way about them. Nor, should they have to. I wish nothing but the best for my siblings, but, honestly, I'm good with a couple of hours' visit every month or so. If, and when they invite me over or ask for a favour, I'd be there like a shot, no questions asked. As far as their feelings towards me go, or how they respond towards my feelings, I don't ask or expect anything.......we just exist in our individual parallel universes, tied together by one common bond....

Not to sound insensitive, here, but I think family relationships depend a lot on expectations. Not everybody feels the same way about them. Nor, should they have to. I wish nothing but the best for my siblings, but, honestly, I'm good with a couple of hours' visit every month or so. If, and when they invite me over or ask for a favour, I'd be there like a shot, no questions asked. As far as their feelings towards me go, or how they respond towards my feelings, I don't ask or expect anything.......we just exist in our individual parallel universes, tied together by one common bond....

AMEN!

__________________No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best!

Yup, my brand freakin' new car that has less than 3,000 miles on it and is less than six months old.

SO and I decided to have Chinese take-out Friday night and beat the New Years Eve rush at every Chinese restaurant in the East. I called and gave an order.

Shortly thereafter (all Chinese take-out is ready in 10 minutes), I got ready to go get it and found my car was completely dead as a doornail. The remote key wouldn't open the door. There was no lighting activity at all. I unlocked the door and tried to start it - not even a whimper. I thought either something was very wrong or I had left something turned on when I last used the car a couple of days earlier.

Saturday, with the light of day, I checked the car visually and found no problems and nothing I had left on to drain the battery.

SO and I jump-started the car and drove it to the dealership where it sits until tomorrow.

Not the kind of behavior I expect from a new Honda.

I fervently hope the new year gives me some respite from these calamities.

__________________
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -Carl Sagan

Yup, my brand freakin' new car that has less than 3,000 miles on it and is less than six months old.

SO and I decided to have Chinese take-out Friday night and beat the New Years Eve rush at every Chinese restaurant in the East. I called and gave an order.

Shortly thereafter (all Chinese take-out is ready in 10 minutes), I got ready to go get it and found my car was completely dead as a doornail. The remote key wouldn't open the door. There was no lighting activity at all. I unlocked the door and tried to start it - not even a whimper. I thought either something was very wrong or I had left something turned on when I last used the car a couple of days earlier.

Saturday, with the light of day, I checked the car visually and found no problems and nothing I had left on to drain the battery.

SO and I jump-started the car and drove it to the dealership where it sits until tomorrow.

Not the kind of behavior I expect from a new Honda.

I fervently hope the new year gives me some respite from these calamities.

I hope so too, Andy!

I'm dreading what the new year has in store for me...

__________________“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein

Yup, my brand freakin' new car that has less than 3,000 miles on it and is less than six months old.

SO and I decided to have Chinese take-out Friday night and beat the New Years Eve rush at every Chinese restaurant in the East. I called and gave an order.

Shortly thereafter (all Chinese take-out is ready in 10 minutes), I got ready to go get it and found my car was completely dead as a doornail. The remote key wouldn't open the door. There was no lighting activity at all. I unlocked the door and tried to start it - not even a whimper. I thought either something was very wrong or I had left something turned on when I last used the car a couple of days earlier.

Saturday, with the light of day, I checked the car visually and found no problems and nothing I had left on to drain the battery.

SO and I jump-started the car and drove it to the dealership where it sits until tomorrow.

Not the kind of behavior I expect from a new Honda.

I fervently hope the new year gives me some respite from these calamities.

I'm really disappointed to hear that it was a Honda. I've driven nothing but H since 1992 and have come to rely of their dependability. Rats.

I do recall an instance back in 1996 when I could not start my car. After having it towed away and "fixed" I realized that, acting on an old, moth-eaten habit, I had pumped the gas prior to turning on the key. At least, I think that's what was wrong. They never found anything wrong with it. Good luck. Hope it's a simple fix.